Monday, January 28 at noon, was the filing deadline for those wanting to run for the vacant South Carolina 1st congressional district seat. The seat became available when Governor Nikki Haley (R) appointed former representative Tim Scott (R) to the United States Senate. Former senator Jim DeMint (R) resigned from the Senate after his appointment to become President of The Heritage Foundation. The candidate list consists of 16 Republicans and 3 Democrats. Some notable names are former Governor Mark Sanford and comedian, Stephen Colbert’s sister. Teddy Turner, whose father is left leaning media magnate Ted Turner, is fighting for the congressional seat not as Democrat but as a conservative Republican. The special election primary will take place March 19, followed by the general election May 7.Democrats Elizabeth Colbert Busch – business-development director at Clemson University; older sister of comedian Stephen ColbertBen Frasier – has lost 11 out of 13 primaries he has run in; former nominee for SC-1Martin Skelly- businessmanRepublicansKeith Blandford – Vice President/Lead Environmental Scientist for the Warrick Group; ran for SC-1 as a Libertarian in 2010 and 2012; served in the U.S. Army National GuardCurtis Bostic – served in the U.S. Marine Corps; served on Charleston County Council for two terms Ric Bryant – an unknown from Hanahan, SCLarry Grooms – businessman; current State SenatorJonathan Hoffman – small business owner; adjunct professor; U.S. Air Force reserve; former White House Director on the Homeland Security Council teamJeff King – systems engineer for a military contractorJohn Kuhn – businessman; tax attorney; former State Senator Tim Larkin – Project Manager and Senior Systems Analyst at a Department of Defense contractor; Afghanistan War veteranChip Limehouse – small businessman; Charleston State RepresentativePeter McCoy – Charleston State Representative; former criminal prosecutor in Solicitor Scarlett Wilson’s officeElizabeth Moffly – businesswoman; Trustee on the Charleston County School Board; former candidate for State Superintendent of Education;Ray Nash – recently resigned his position as the Criminal Justice Adviser for the US Embassy in Kabul; former Dorchester County SheriffAndy Patrick – small business owner; U.S. Air Force veteran; former Special Agent for the U.S. Secret ServiceShawn Pinkston – local attorney; former U.S. Army officer; Iraq War veteran; former military prosecutorMark Sanford – former Governor of South Carolina; former representative for SC-1Teddy Turner – small business owner; high school teacher; son of media mogul Ted Turner